Picture books for everyone

 

Unicorn Not Wanted by Fred Blunt

We're seeing this construct more often now in picture books: the text starts with the narrator telling us explicitly what we won't find within the pages. Almost immediately the book is interrupted by a cheeky character determined to disrupt the plan. Of course, if the narrator tells us there are too many unicorn books and thus our book will have only cowboys, we're bound to have a unicorn intruding. The rest of the book follows a predictable pattern, with the unicorn and it's pug friend trying to sneak into the story and the narrator becoming increasingly frustrated. We know what's going to happen but it doesn't really matter. This style of narrative can be very appealing to a kid's sense of humor as it relies on disguises and wild excuses. The illustrations are exaggerated and expressive, making it a lot of fun to look at. This book would make an excellent read aloud for a mixed audience primed for a laugh.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - When Clouds Touch Us

 

Title: When Clouds Touch Us

Author: Thanhha Lai

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

                     Red White and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

Rating:

 

well developed

Summary (provided by publisher): Hà and her family have worked hard to make a life for themselves in the US, but it hasn’t come easy. Hà has only just started to feel settled when Mother decides that the family will move to Texas for a new job.
Hà knows how hard starting over is and doesn’t want to have to do it again. But sometimes even an unwanted change can bring opportunity, new friends, and a place to call home.

My opinion: If you've read Inside Out and Back Again you'll know what to expect from this book. The first volume introduced us to a refugee family and their struggles to find a place to belong in small town Alabama. This volume extends those ideas. Book one had them getting their feet under them. This book introduces more change as their mother is no longer satisfied with just surviving. She wants a better life for them so this book is all about making sacrifices in the name of a better future while her children try to find a place to belong again. While it builds on the events of the previous book, familiarity isn't necessary to understand this one.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Mother's Day

 At the end of April I promised you a post about Mother's Day. I had every intention of making a gift for my mother and documenting the process here. But that didn't happen. I bought her a book and some tea and instead spent the weekend doing things with my mother. We baked bread and cinnamon rolls. We cooked meals, planned a garden, talked about everything under the sun, and made a couple of silly projects. So sure, all I have to share with you today is a flower made from a coffee filter and a hastily colored hedgehog. I regret nothing.

Book review - Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards

 

Title: Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards

Author: Susan Tan

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: Spirit's Key by Edith Cohn

                     The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington

Rating:

 

excellent use of details

Summary (provided by publisher): Mo is not afraid of toast. Just to be clear. She is afraid of fires, though. Which can be caused by everyday appliances, like toasters. So toast isn’t the problem, but you could say it’s the start of a slippery slope. Since her family's recent move, Mo's been eating oatmeal for breakfast.
Moving to a new town is never easy, but it’s even harder when you’re dealing with a stepdad who just left and a mom who can’t get out of bed long enough to find a new a job.
But Mo doesn’t have time to dwell on these things. Because it’s her job to keep her family together. To keep them safe.
So when an elephant starts to haunt her dreams—and a mysterious spirit attacks her home—Mo knows it’s up to her to intervene before things get too dangerous.
With her new friend, Nathaniel, she embarks on an investigation, searching for the truth about the town, its people, and their history. But things are much more complicated and tangled than she thought.
To find out what’s really going on, Mo might have to live a little dangerously after all.

My opinion: How do you tell a ghost story without making it scary? You tell this story. You have a ghost that has an effect on the world but without really haunting anything. Now, it becomes apparent pretty early on that the ghost is a symbol for change and loss. It is, after all, a literal elephant in the room. It is the pain that Mo and her family don't want to acknowledge. While that metaphor is a bit heavy-handed for an adult reader it's about perfect for a young reader starting to read more deeply in a text. Tan uses specific sensory details to great affect so we truly experience the ghost and the junkyard along with the characters. With a decent level of character development this is a solid choice for a solo read or a book club or classroom setting.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6 : Animals

 I'm often intrigued by the approach an author takes to a plot. This is especially true when they make the main characters animals. You can do things with animal characters that would seem implausible with humans. Simply by virtue of being animals, they encourage us to expand our suspension of disbelief. Not to mention they're usually cute and fun. Here are six new books published in the past six months that feature animal characters.

6 new books with animal protagonists:

1. Famously Funny Parrott by Eric Daniel Weiner
2. Pluto Rocket New in Town by Paul Gillian
3. Batcat by Meggie Ramm
4. Wizkit by Tanya J Scott
5. Otis & Peanut by Naseem Hrab
6. The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
   

Book review - A Robin, a Ribbon, and a Lawn Mower

 

Title: A Robin, a Ribbon, and a Lawn Mower

Author: Mark David Smith

Genre: mystery/humor

Similar books: Wallace and Grace Take the Case by Heather Alexander

                      The Ghost and Max Monroe series by L. M. Falcone 

Rating:

 

a nice blend of elements

Summary (provided by publisher): It’s summer, and the Weird Sisters are convinced that the residents of Covenly aren’t coming to their pet emporium—and newly opened detective agency—because the sisters are too strange. So they decide to let nine-year-old Jessica Nibley teach them how to play on the swing to fit in.
They soon discover the town’s beloved tire swing lying on the ground with its rope severed. Who would do such a thing? And why? Jessica and the sisters are determined to solve the mystery. As they search for clues, they stumble onto a second mystery: the robin that nests at Chelsea Oh’s house has gone missing. So they plan to find both the robin and the swing vandal.

My opinion: This is the second book in a series, a fact I didn't realize when I started reading it though that quickly became apparent. There are many references to previous events and established relationships and identities are not rehashed. Even so, that was only a minor barrier to understanding. Since this is a beginner chapter book, the plot and writing are pretty straightforward and easy to follow. There is a fair amount of humor, largely based on the multiple meanings for words and the confusion based in homophones. So not only is this a mystery, it could be used to reinforce lessons on grammar. It's a mystery but largely light hearted. There is no danger or serious crime. It's cute and one I would easily recommend to young readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

                      

Thank goodness for toothbrushes

 This winter I learned the ancient art of nalbinding after I was gifted a book and needle for Christmas. After I finished my little basket, I set aside my needle until I could find some wool yarn for my next project. 

A couple of weeks ago I was gifted the perfect yarn and wouldn't you know, I can't find the needle. I'm quite certain I put it somewhere "safe". Too safe, I guess, because I'm going to have to move everything to find it. 

I was resigned to setting aside the yarn for months when I remembered a stash of used bamboo handled toothbrushes. I'd figured I would use them for spatter painting or detailed scrubbing but I was struck by the resemblance to my nalbinding needle.

Obviously, the toothbrush is much thicker but after I cut off the brush head it only took a couple of evenings shaving it down with my pocket knife to get the right general shape. Then I drilled in the eye and sanded the whole thing down. After letting the glue dry (it cracked when I drilled it) I have a workable needle.

 

I actually kind of like the contour